Mahalia Jackson sings: “No Other Help I Know.”
No Other Help I Know (Lord I Lift My Hands to Thee)
No Other Help I Know,* written by Charles Wesley, is a song often heard in African-American churches. The scriptural basis for this hymn is Psalm 88:9, which says: “I have stretched out my hands unto Thee.” It was my father’s favorite hymn. As a matter of fact, it was the only hymn I ever heard him quote. I can see and hear him now, lifting his hands in moments of deep distress that required prayer, saying: “Father, I stretch my hands to Thee, No other help I know.”
These words are among the first that come to mind as I ponder the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, where Michael Brown, an unarmed black youth, died at the hands of Officer Darren Wilson. We can grieve this and other racially based injustices, as we rightly should. But, despite our grief and disappointments, we cannot stop praising the Lord and asking for His help.
“No Other Help I Know,” is my praise offering today. Please take time to listen to this video of Mahalia Jackson singing this song that for centuries has served as a prayer for the helpless and disenfranchised. The lyrics written by Charles Wesley are written below. The lyrics sung by Mahalia Jackson are different.
No Other Help I Know
(as sung by Mahalia Jackson)
When I’ve done all I can do
And I’ve gone as far as I can go
When I fall for the right
And grow weak in my fight
(Then I’ll say) Father I stretch my hands to thee
No other help
No other help
(In this world) I know
No other shelter from the storm
No other comfort when things go wrong
No other hope when in despair
No other friend Lord I have anywhere
(Then I’ll say) Father
Oh, father I stretch my hands to thee
No other help
No other help
(In this ol’ world) I know
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No Other Help I Know
by Charles Wesley
Father, I stretch my hands to Thee,
No other help I know;
If Thou withdraw Thyself from me,
Ah! whither shall I go?
What did Thine only Son endure,
Before I drew my breath!
What pain, what labor, to secure
My soul from endless death!
O Jesus, could I this believe,
I now should feel Thy power;
Now my poor soul Thou wouldst retrieve,
Nor let me wait one hour.
Surely Thou canst not let me die;
O speak, and I shall live;
And here I will unwearied lie,
Till Thou Thy Spirit give.
Author of faith! to Thee I lift
My weary, longing eyes:
O let me now receive that gift!
My soul without it dies.
The worst of sinners would rejoice,
Could they but see Thy face:
O, let me hear Thy quickening voice,
And taste Thy pardoning grace.
This is our comfort: The Lord loves justice (Isaiah 61:8). He hears us in the day of trouble, as Psalm 20 says:
Psalm 20 King James Version (KJV)
1 The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
2 Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
3 Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.
5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.
6 Now know I that the Lord saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.
9 Save, Lord: let the king hear us when we call.
Until we meet again: Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!
Your friend in Christ,
Verneda
Twitter handle: @vlights
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Additional reading: What Can You Do Right Now to End Racism in America?
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*Words: Charles Wesley, A Collection of Psalms and Hymns, 1741. Music: Naomi, Hans G. Nägeli; arranged by Lowell Mason, 1836 (MIDI, score).
“No Other Help I know” by Mahalia Jackson was Uploaded to Youtube.com on Jan 19, 2009. Verneda Lights and E-graphX Omnimedia have no ownership in this video. It is used for educational purposes only.
